Glinda's Aunt and Uncle were at the bottom of the steps. And Glinda ran over to them, pulling Elphie along, much to her dismay.

"Aunt Greda, Uncle Robil I'd like to present my best friend Elphaba Thropp. Elphie, My favorite Aunt and Uncle Greda and Robil Varlet."

Greda took Elphie's hands in hers.

"It is such a pleasure to meet you my dear." She said very sincerely

Elphie saw, and felt a strong resemblance to Glinda's mother, as the woman took her hands

"A pleasure for me as well, Mrs. Varlet" Elphie said warmly

Glinda's uncle took Elphie's hand and shook it vigorously

"No need for formality, Elphaba. I'm Robil and this is Greda. I've been looking forward to meeting you" His voice was deep, booming and slightly accented.

"As have I, Glinda speaks of both of you with great affection" Elphie said taking back her hand as gracefully as she could.

"Ah, our little Galinda is a treasure." He took Elphie's arm and led her to the dining room.

"I know your great-grandfather" He continued "I have business dealings with him from time to time, He can be one tough cookie." He laughed as they walked into breakfast.

"Maybe while I'm here…"

"Now Robil, you know the rules, no business talk at meals" Gwenot chided glancing at Elphie who smiled appreciatively.

During that little exchange, Samion had seated Glinda, and then he intercepted discreetly to seat Elphaba between her and Gwenot.

"Let us fill our plates from the grand breakfast buffet Cook has prepared and talk about your trip and the latest news from the Emerald City." Gwenot said with flourish.

She seemed to shine even brighter when in the role of ruling matriarch.

They filled their plates with eggs, seasoned potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and various sweet breads. Then went back to the table and caught up. Glinda talked about school and her sorcery classes.

"Jilla is the family sorceress" She told Elphie "Until I graduate that is" She chuckled

"Even then I'm in no danger of being unseated" Jilla quipped, smirking at her cousin

Jilla then filled everyone in on her new job, teaching basic sorcery. And Pajul told them of the goings on in the Palace, where he worked in the Public Relations department. Greda enlightened them on the social scene,

"Being the guests of honor at the Upland Manor ball is the talk of the season" She bragged

And Robil informed them of the latest news, financial and otherwise.

"Here's an interesting bit, the academics among us may be interested in" He said smiling at Glinda

"It's concerning that nasty business at Shiz a week or so ago."

"Finally some information, we don't know much" Glinda said interested, but feeling remnants of fear, as were they all. She reached for Elphie's hand under the table.

"Well it seems that two men, rumored to be working with an underground movement to get Animals out of the cities, and businesses went around the EC staging protests, vandalizing buildings where Animals work and reside, general mischief like that. Then they started, making small bombs and setting them off in places more to get attention, than to cause damage. Their violence escalated as they started assaulting people, especially women, to create a sense of general fear and panic one can only assume."

Glinda squeezed the long soft fingers that had slipped into hers.

"It seemed that rumors of one of their despicable acts surfaced a few times a week for months, but they were only peripherally reported in the news. My numerous contacts kept me up-to-date.

"That is horrible" Samion said, "Why didn't the police stop them? Or the Wizard's forces?" He was irate.

Listening to all of this was making Glinda more fearful and Elphie was becoming agitated.

"They tried, it seems, but they couldn't be located. Apparently, they were part of a rouge group, which preferred violence and so split from the original group that did not advocate violence. Two men, more than likely the same ones, were recently extradited from Shiz back to the EC. They are presumed to be the ones who staged the protests and created that explosion on campus and apparently attacked many Animal professors and even assaulted several girls on campus.

Elphie blanched, and felt nauseous. She excused herself from the table, mumbling something about more milk and fled into the kitchen, barely able to control her legs. Glinda excused herself politely and ran after her.

"What's wrong with them?" Jilla asked

Gwenot explained about Glinda's involvement with the unpleasantness on campus, and how Elphie helped her, hoping that would help explain their sudden exits

Elphie was holding on to the kitchen table, her mind reeling, her stomach churning, her eyes burning with angry tears. Glinda came rushing in

"Elphie?" Glinda said concerned, touching her arm

She pulled away. "Not now Glinda, please. I need to get out of here. I have to get out of here. Make my apologies to your family, tell them… hell, tell them whatever you wish."

She turned and looked at her love then ran out of the door.

Glinda sighed. She was shaken and disturbed, but went to request a brief conversation with her parents. To her dismay, she was bombarded with questions from her concerned relatives. She answered them patiently; showed them her healed knees and managed to evade questions about Elphaba's whereabouts. Finally she got a moment alone with her parents and told them a more accurate story about Elphie's attack, still avoiding the worst part.

"…She's in the horse meadow, I think"

"Go on down to her darling, we will fix things in there. Go" They hugged their daughter and went back to breakfast.

"I think that was very rude of Elphaba to up and run off like that," Jilla was saying as the Uplands came back in

"Jilla, a little understanding, please they both went through a terrible ordeal." She admonished gently

Jilla tried to look contrite and although they continued to talk about the incident, Samion requested that they not press the girls on it.

Glinda walked down the back path to the horse meadow, positive that is where Elphie went. She expected to find her twitching and pacing and that was Ok, she knew how to handle that. As she neared the meadow, however, she saw her love sitting quietly on the grass, leaning against the old tree stump.

Taking a deep breath, she walked over to Elphie, lowered herself down on the grass beside her and placed herself in her love's arms as she usually did, fully expected to be rebuffed. She was surprised when she felt Elphie's arms tighten around her slightly. She leaned her head on the shoulder of the girl she loved to wait her out.

"Can we stay here Lyndie?" She asked after a while.

"We can stay her as long as you wish my love." She said intertwining her fingers with Elphie's long green ones.

"I was thinking forever would be nice."

"You want to stay in Gillkin forever?" Glinda said wondering where this was headed.

"I want to stay in the horse meadow forever." Elphie said quietly.

"Well I'm game my love, but things could get complicated during the rainy season, although I suppose we could move into the gazebo." She said hoping to lighten Elphie's mood.

When she heard Elphie chuckle softly, she knew this was not going to turn into a full-blown crisis for her.

"Elphie, I was shaken by that news too." She ventured

Elphie let out a heavy sigh and shifted so that her and her love were facing one another.

"What did you tell them?" She sighed; not sure she even wanted to know.

"I told my parents that I wasn't completely honest with Momsie when we talked after the slip in the mud incident, that the men didn't just knock you down and take your purse." She took her friends hand.

"I told them they were very rough with you, that they grabbed you, hit you several times, shoved you down hard and you came home with many bruises and cuts." She said quietly, maintaining eye contact.

"I hate that you lied to your parents because of me." Elphie said taking back her hand. "Did it smooth over my breach of etiquette?"

"They sent me down here to be with you. And said they would handle the curious masses in the dining room."

The hint of a smile played across Elphie's face

"Glinda, you might have been killed because of this stupidity" She said angrily

"Is that why you were so upset? Thinking what could have happened to me." She asked

"Yes, in part, and also it angered me thinking, apparently there are other girls who went through same nightmare that I did. Why were you shaken?"

" Just hearing all those details, but It helped to hear that the men who hurt you had been caught and were no longer in Shiz."

"That crossed my mind briefly too," She said pulling Glinda into a hug.

"Elphie, I'm safe and unharmed and you are healing" She said soothingly

Elphie huffed. "Not fast enough"

"You are coping very well, my love- the sooner you realize that the better off you will be. "

"I don't know why I felt the need to leave."

"Yes you do" She stroked the arms around her.

"Yes I do, but I really don't want to talk about it. Are you Ok my sweet?"

"I am my love" She told them about the question and answer session with her relatives.
"And if I know my parents, they will have put a stop to any more discussion on the subject. Not that that will stop Jilla, but she's easy to placate. Are you feeling more in control now Elphie?"

"Yes, I'm not going to let this spoil this time for me or you. I'd like to go apologize to your parents, and don't tell me it is not necessary, It is for me." She rose from the ground and pulled Glinda up.

They walked quietly back up to the house, and went to find Glinda's parents. Unfortunately, everyone was in the parlor. Jilla was telling about the interesting mishaps that occurred with her sorcery beginners. They entered to concerned looks

"Is everything alright my darlings?" Gwenot asked

"Yes, it is. I need to apologize to you all for my atrocious behavior. I should not have left so abruptly, I'm sorry." Elphie said her voice distressed

"I am as well" Glinda echoed. "Hearing that news filled in some blanks, but brought up some issues"

After a round of reassurances and understanding smiles and looks, the girls settled in to the conversation. Soon they were laughing at the magic mishaps of Jilla's students and Glinda was sharing her own. Elphie even chimed in with a story or two. Around mid-morning Robil and Greda excused themselves for a nap.

"The trip was a bit taxing" Greda said.

"So Elphaba, what are you studying at Shiz" Jilla said.

"My major is Life Sciences. But I'm not yet sure what path I will choose."

"Interesting choice for someone who purports to have talent in sorcery" Jilla said sweetly

"I may have a little talent, but I have no interest in sorcery." Elphie bristled, feeling challenged.

"Jilla, the only time Elphie does anything remotely magical is to help me with my studies, and she does that grudgingly." Glinda chuckled "How did you get your teaching job anyway?" She said changing the subject

They talked for awhile more, general catching up and memory sharing, then they went their separate ways to rest and relax.

Finally alone, Glinda took Elphie in her arms and held her tightly.

"I'm sorry you were so upset my love"

"I'm sorry you were too" Elphie responded "But at least now we know the story"

They kissed and went to sit on the sofa.

"Your Aunt seems a lot like your mother." Elphie said as they settled in

"She is, only not as outgoing. What do you think of Uncle Robil"

"He has a…commanding presence"

"Elphie, you were diplomatic, I'm so proud!" Glinda chuckled "And Jilla?

"Now that I know you have a sorcery instructor for a cousin, I'm not going to concern myself with tidying up after you." She kissed her roomie, hoping that would end the conversation. She wasn't sure how she felt about Jilla just yet.

They spent the afternoon together, not doing much of anything. Elphie read and Glinda doodled on her sketchpad and played with her wand and spell book, with the clear understanding that Elphie would not reverse any mishaps she made. They spent hours saying very little with words, but speaking volumes never the less. It was much needed time for Elphie to gain perspective and get her emotions under control; it was always easier for her to do when Glinda was with her. Surprisingly, Glinda enjoyed these quiet times as well. They were hard for her at first, because she thought it meant Elphie was irritated with her, but now she was able to be happy and comforted with her just being near.

Both of them were slowly realizing the power of the connection they shared and it's effect on them, individually and together.

Glinda lay down with her head on Elphie's lap to take a nap.

"Hey, I'm reading here" She chuckled

"And I'm sleepy" she whined

"That's what beds are for" Elphie grumped shifting around so they were both comfortable.

Glinda pulled her down and kissed her "Just a cat nap, please"

"Fine. But no drooling, I'm almost out of aloe oil" She said seriously, but smiling

Glinda smiled back and closed her eyes and dozed off. Elphie went back to her book, stroking Glinda's hair feeling content and back in control.

It was late in the afternoon before they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Glinda stirred, but didn't wake up

"Come in" Elphie called

It was Jilla "Glin… Oh Elphaba, where's Galinda?" She said surprised to find the green girl in her cousin's room.

Elphie chuckled and pointed down "Napping" She poked at Glinda lightly to rouse her. "Nap time over sleepy girl, your cousin is here"

Jilla arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. Glinda stirred and sat up, hair tousled and a dreamy look on her face. "Hi Jilla"

Jilla came and sat down and Glinda rubbed her eyes and shifted around.

"Nice nap or nice dreams little cousin?" She chuckled

"Both" Glinda smiled trying to tame her wild locks. "Did you and Pajul get in a nap?"

"A short one, we found other relaxing ways to occupy our time" She winked at her cousin, who giggled

"It's so comforting to know some things never change" Glinda laughed. Elphie flushed slightly

"So why the intrusion on my nap?"

"You mean your dream, Your mother wants all Upland related women in her parlor as soon as possible so do something with that mane and let's go."

"I'll just go put my things in my room and be right back," Elphie said leaving

Glinda went to brush out her hair.

"Galinda, why is she coming? She is not an Upland woman" Jilla huffed

Glinda looked at her cousin in surprise "For all intents and purposes she is"

Jilla shrugged and took her cousins arm "Whatever you say cousin"

They met Elphie in the hall and headed down to the parlor, Glinda on Jilla's arm. Elphie followed behind.

Greda was already there, as was a tray of drinks

"Hello girls, All rested?" Gwenot said filling glasses with iced tea and handing them to the cousins and cider filled one to Elphie

"Thank you Gwenot, this hits the spot" Elphie said settling in a chair

"Yes, thanks Auntie" She said sitting on the sofa with Glinda

"This is good Momsie, the perfect after nap, before dinner pick me up" Glinda said happily "So why the meeting?"

"A few things actually, I want to make sure we are all on the same page, before things get too hectic tomorrow. First, Elphaba we received a message from the apothecary, inquiring if you needed a refill on any of your oils."

Greda and Jilla looked confused

"Actually I do" Elphie said

"When we are finished here collect your bottles and give them to Hensign. We can pick up your refills tomorrow when we go into town"

"Ok, thank you" Elphie said pleased and a little surprised

"We are going into town?" Glinda said excitedly

"That's the second thing. I need to finalize some party arrangements with the Ensemble tomorrow. They are playing at the Emerald Tea Room, I can conduct my business, then we can have lunch there and listen to them play, Just us girls"

"Oh Momsie, that sounds like fun, I love the Tea Room" Glinda bubbled "Elphie?"

"Sounds fun" She smiled

"What a fabulous idea Auntie" Jilla clapped "You like that place too don't you mother?"

"Very much" Greda sighed happily "Your father and I feel in love there"

"Ok then, that's set, I'll make reservations. You girls can go by the apothecary's while Greda and I talk with the Ensemble director."

"Ok Momsie." Glinda was happy and fidgety

"Now about party day"

Glinda squirmed with excitement

"The salon will be set up in here right after lunch"

"Salon?" Elphie said confused

"Yeah Elphie, manicures, facials, hair. All of that stuff, to get ready for the party" Glinda was in full bubble mode. "Which reminds me we should add some Gillkin rose scented mineral oil to your list"

"Good idea, Galinda. Elphaba, would you mind?" Her mom said

Elphie nodded

"Good. Baths first, Elphaba's will be set up first, then Sargy will draw Glinda's, Jilla's, then ours. Is that acceptable Greda."

"Perfectly, the girls always seem to take much longer than we do" The older women laughed

"If that's the case, we should get Glinda in after breakfast, not lunch" Jilla chuckled

"Ha ha" Glinda responded

"Are we clear: lunch, baths, salon time, dress, dinner then dancing the night away." Gwenot said excitedly

Glinda was bouncing happily "I'm so excited I could burst" She chirped

"That's our little party girl" Jilla smiled

"Any questions, comments?" Gwenot looked around at the excited faces "No. Fine, dinner in half an hour, meeting adjourned. Now Elphaba darling, run get your bottles and get them to Hensign right away. Then please come right back I need to speak with you, you as well to Galinda.

"Come on Elphie, I'll help" She jumped off the couch, too fidgety to sit still and wait

In her room Elphie quickly gathered up her empty bottles and put them in a pouch, with a list, then tried to leave.

"One hug and kiss, Please" Glinda whined

Elphie obliged with a fierce hug and one of their recently discovered soft, lingering, chaste, but just barely kisses

"Happy" Elphie smiled

"I love you"

"And I you, now come your mother is waiting"

They hurried and dropped off the bottles with Hensign, then went back upstairs. Gwenot was alone

"Hi mom. Mission accomplished"

"Good, thank you Elphaba, I wanted to see if you were Ok, this morning seemed very hard for you."

"It was, but I'm fine now really"

"I'm relieved, I'll help you any way I can my darling, know that"

"I do already, thank you" She was confused and flustered again and she hated feeling like that.

"Also, may I have your permission to explain to Greda about your water allergy? She was curious about the oils."

Elphie was taken aback that her permission was being asked at all. "Of course you may Gwenot, and please feel free explain it to whom ever you feel needs to know. I trust your desecration" She smiled warmly at the woman.

Glinda just beamed

"Thank you Elphaba, that means a lot. I assume you will explain it to Jilla. Now go wash up for dinner you two." She hugged Glinda and patted Elphie's arm.

Dinner was a casual affair with more story swapping and catching up. After dinner the mothers went into the parlor for some sister time, the men to the library for some pipe and brandy time, Jilla and Pajul went on a walk for some young lovers time and Elphie and Glinda went to Glinda's room for some snuggle time.

"I wonder where Jilla and Pajul will find to make love this time," Glinda said cuddling in Elphie's arms "Glinda, what a thing to say!" Elphie said startled

Sorry Elphie, it's a game with them, whenever they visit, even before they were married. The find one new place outside and one new place inside to have sex. Last time it was in the green house, they almost got caught by Gardener" She giggled

"Why do you tell me these things when you know full well I have no way to process them" Elphie sighed

"Oh you will someday my love, and when you can, think of all the interesting things you can practice on"

She kissed her flustered friend and was just pulling away when Jilla burst through the door carrying a tray filled with popped corn, spicy fried dough and other snacks as well as a pitcher of iced tea and a bottle of wine.

"Attention ladies, into your nightclothes, then reconvene here for a marathon girl talk and junk food session!" She chuckled

"Oh yeah!" Glinda chirped "What a marvelous idea. Elphie you'll hate it- but go change anyway and hurry back, bare feet only!" She was thrilled.

Elphaba looked at her love with amusement "As you command Your Royal Perkiness" she bowed, chuckling

Elphie left to change and Glinda picked out a frilly pink nightdress to change into

"Why will Elphaba hate this?" Jilla asked

"Huh- Oh I was just teasing her. Don't worry about it. Go change, scoot!"

Jilla left, thinking that her cousin had lost her mind choosing such an odd and green best friend.

Elphie, determined to go with the flow, changed into her favorite nightdress, brushed out her hair and put it in a ponytail. Back over in Glinda's room she settled on the sofa. Glinda appeared and sat across from her.

"Are you up for an evening of girl talk my love"

"Since I don't know what that is, I'll say sure why not" She laughed

Jilla entered before Glinda had a chance to explain. And plopped down in the chair. She opened the wine, and poured three glasses

"A toast" She said as the others took their glasses "To cousins, friends and the ties that bind them together"

They clinked glasses. Elphie sipped, Glinda took a drink and Jilla downed half the glass.

"Oh Elphie, I'll run down and get you a pitcher of cider" said Glinda getting up

"No, I'll get it, you stay here and tell her why" She left before Glinda could question her

"What, she doesn't like tea or wine?" Jilla said annoyed for some reason

"Not exactly, She is allergic to water" Glinda said as if it were a common occurrence.

"What, that's impossible" she said skeptically

Glinda assured her it was true and explained about the oils and their uses,

"That's ridiculous. This is a joke, right"

"Just trust me Jilla, water is harmful to her"

Elphie came in with a pitcher of cold cider and poured herself a glass

"Interesting allergy" Jilla smiled

" It amuses me on occasion" Elphie smiled back, feeling a certain pleasure.

"Alright ladies first things first. Tell me about the cute boy situation at Shiz"

"No, first things first, where did you and Pajul find this time?" Glinda countered

"In the open carriage in the carriage house. A little danger makes it all the more exciting" She winked

"One day I hope I'm as brazen as you are." Glinda said

Elphie coughed, trying to cover a gasp.

"Are you Ok?" Glinda asked taking the opportunity to focus on Elphie

"I'm fine, Cider went down the wrong way" She leveled a stare at her love

"Speaking of sex" Jilla said "back to the cute boy situation at Shiz"

"Well half the boys there either have a crush on Glinda or are heartbroken because of her" Elphie chuckled trying to recover.

"Brava little cousin, half the campus in less than a term. Impressive" She said applauding

"Elphaba is exaggerating" Glinda humphed

Jilla smiled "I doubt that, So anyone special you have your eye on"

"In a manner of speaking, yes I do" Glinda said slyly "A fellow Fresher actually"

"Galinda, Galinda, didn't I always tell you older is better"

"I just said Fresher, not anything about not being older" She winked

Elphie was too amused by this interplay to flush.

"Details please, handsome?"

"Very, very attractive, yes" She smiled

"Good kisser?"

"So far, and the future looks very promising" She grinned naughtily

Elphie was amazed at her love's ability to tell the truth and lie at the same time.

"I see, So nothing else going on?"

"Jilla, we've only been close a short while and I'm only 17. Really!"

Her cousin laughed pouring herself another glass of wine "Ah well, You always were the good girl of the bunch, but when you are ready to have sex with this boy, talk to me. I've learned a lot in two years of marriage"

Glinda blushed slightly "I promise, I will talk to you before I have sex with a boy" she giggled

"And how's your love life Elphaba, any cute guys you have your eye on?"

Elphie wasn't even going to attempt the kind of banter Glinda had engaged in.

"No boys, I'm to tied up in my studies for such things, Besides I spend a great deal of time keeping your cousin out of trouble"

"Really, Such as.."

"The night at the sing along bar, probably, but my memory is a little fuzzy on the details" Glinda said

"Even more interesting, elaborate" Jilla said settling back

Glinda told her about all the ale and the dancing and Elphie's bawdy pub tune

"The pub tune was nothing" Elphie said, "your cousin did an interesting rendition of the Ozian National Anthem"

"Interesting, naughty or interesting off key?" Jilla giggled

"Both actually" Elphie chuckled

"Elphie you never said it was naughty" Glinda said shocked

"So what did my drunk cousin do?"

"When the phrase, in the chorus, beasts on the plains came up, she sang breasts on the panes and shook her chest."

Jilla chortled with glee until tears rolled down her face

"I did not!" Glinda said aghast

"I'm afraid you did. When you sang we offer up our virgin lives instead of our very lives, that's when I knew it was time to leave"

Jilla could not stop laughing, Glinda had started chuckling and even Elphie had to admit that it was funny.

When the laughter settled Glinda continued

"Elphie was an angel, even when I refused to leave. I made her sing in exchange for my cooperation"

"Blessed little cooperation" Elphie chuckled

She was actually enjoying this girl talk, as long as it didn't focus to heavily on her. And it gave her a chance to try and figure out Jilla.

"More bawdy pub tunes" Jilla asked

"Nope" Glinda said "The Shiz school song, in a duet with a classmate whose heart I apparently broke."

"Intriguing" Jilla, said, "You sing Elphaba?"

"To get drunken roommates out of bars with a shred of dignity left, I do" She laughed, hoping to deflect the subject

"I'm assuming you were sober"

"I'm not much of a drinker" Elphie pointed to her still full glass.

Glinda told her more about the evening eliciting more laughs from everyone

"There may be hope for you yet little cousin. All you need is a steady fellow, you are almost 18, that's a perfectly acceptable age."

"I'm enjoying what I already have thank you. It has fantastic possibilities," Glinda said

"For sex or just companionship?" Jilla inquired

"Both actually" She didn't look at Elphie, but knew she was flushing "So what have you learned from your hubby, anything you can tell us without killing us" She laughed

"There is this one trick…"

She explained in great detail her new favorite thing to do with her husband, to a giggling an astonished Glinda and a flushing and flustered Elphie.

"How do you keep from hurting yourself?" Glinda asked intrigued

"We learned it from a book, details, pictures everything."

Glinda asked a few more questions. Jilla was the only person she talked to like this and she wanted to take advantage of it while she could. She knew Elphie was flustered, but since Jilla hadn't actually directed any of this directly to her, she figured her dark green love would survive.

Elphie recovered, as the conversation shifted gears to young Glinda and Jilla memories, then on to the party.

"So who did Auntie line up for you escorts"

"We will be unescorted, luckily" Glinda said finishing her glass of wine.

"Really, that's wonderful, you two will be free agents. This has real possibilities. But why?"

"Short version. Elphie is already 18"

"Hmmm. 18 and never been kissed" Jilla sang

"I never said that" Elphie said proud of herself for being able to.

"Ah, a woman of mystery" Jilla said hoping for more.

"Actually I prefer the term enigmatic" Elphie chuckled

Glinda was beside herself with pleasure. She would tell her love later how proud of her she was.

"Guess what Jilla, Byjon made us evening gowns for the ball" Glinda said excitedly

"Oh I hate you! Byjon is the best; He is sought after even in the EC. So let's see cousin"

"Jilla you know the rules" Glinda laughed, but she was dying to show off her gown

"Rules smules" She said

"Ok. Come on" She grabbed her cousin's hand and unveiled her gown.

Jilla was astounded

"Galinda, that is incredible, bold and sexy. Your father will hate it" She laughed

"That seems to be the general consensus," Elphie said

"You've seen it already?" Jilla said surprised

"Long story" Glinda said as she grabbed her hand. "Let's go see Elphie's"

"Glinda, please" Elphie said

"Come on Elphie" Glinda whined

"Yeah come on Elphie " Jilla whined

"As I am outnumbered…." But the cousins were out the door

Jilla whistled when she saw Elphaba's gown.

"That is stunning" She said "You two are incredibly lucky, having a Byjon original is nothing to be taken lightly"

"I know" Glinda smiled not mentioning she had five already. Then she yawned

"What time is it anyway?"

"Almost two" Elphie said

"We'd better get to sleep, fun day tomorrow"

"I was hoping we could ride sometime while I was here" Jilla said as they left Elphie's room

"Sure, no problem" Glinda said then she hugged her cousin "Thanks for the girl talk cousin"

"It has been awhile, I miss you, you know" She gave Glinda a kiss "Now I get to pester my husband"

"Goodnight Elphaba, "night cousin" She ran down the hall

Glinda pulled Elphie back into her room

"I'm sorry my love, if we embarrassed you." She giggled "but I'm so proud of you for holding your own"

"She is an intriguing girl. Elphie stated "And I can see why she is your favorite.

"Cousin Elphie, cousin. You're my favorite, you know I was talking about you, not a boy"

"I caught onto that, yes" She flushed "But I love you anyway"

Glinda kissed her, then kissed her again "Yep definitely promising" She kissed her again

"No more Jilla for you" Elphie laughed "Now goodnight"

Glinda stole another kiss "Goodnight my love"

She sauntered across the hall; secure in the knowledge her dreams would be good.